Some account of the Pennsylvania Hospital; from its first rise to the beginning of the fifth month, called May, 1754 / [Benjamin Franklin].

  • Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790.
Date:
1754
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Some account of the Pennsylvania Hospital; from its first rise to the beginning of the fifth month, called May, 1754 / [Benjamin Franklin]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    6/40 (page 6)
    c thereafter contribute the like Sum of Ttn Pounds or more (together with the faid firfl: < Subfcrrbers) or fo many of them as fhall think fit to affemble and meet on the fecond « Day of the firfl Week, in the Month called May, yearly forever, atfome conve- c nient Place in the City of Philadelphia, then and there to elect by Ballot, twelve fit c and fuitable Perfons of their own Number to be Managers of the faid Contribution « and Hofpital, and one other Perfon to be Treafurer of the fame, until the next ‘ Election ; and farther, to make fuch Laws, Rules and Orders, as fhall appear to * them the faid Contributors met, or the major Part of them, to be good, ufeful 4 and neceffary, for the well governing, ordering and regulating the faid Hofpital, 4 and for the Regulation of the future Elections of Managers, Treafurer, and other c neceffary Officers and Miniflers thereof, and for limiting and appointing their Num- « ber, Trull, and Authority, and generally for the well ordering all other Things con- « cerning the Government, Eflate, Goods, Lands, Revenues, as alfo all the Bufinefs 4 and Affairs of the faid Hofpital : All which Laws, Rules and Orders, fo to be 4 made as aforefaid, fhall be from Time to Time inviolably obferved by all concern’d, « according to the Tenor and Effect of them, provided they be not repugnant to 4 the Laws of England or this Government, and are approved by the Chief 4 Juflice, the Speaker of the Affembly, and the Attorney-General of this Province 4 for the Time being, under their Hands and Seals. And the faid Contributors fhall 4 be, and are hereby made a Body Corporate in Law, to all Intents and Pur- 4 pofes, and fhall have perpetual Succeffion, and may fue, or be fued, plead, or be 4 impleaded, by the Name of 'The Contributors to the Pennfylvania Hofpital, in all 4 Courts of Judicature within this Province, and by that Name, fhall and may re- 4 ceive and take any Lands, Tenements, or Hereditaments, not exceeding the year- 4 ly Value of One Thoufand Pounds, of the Gift, Alienation, Bequefl, or Devife of 4 any Perfon or Perfons whomsoever; and of any Goods or Chattels whatfoever; and 4 the faid Contributors are hereby impower’d to have and ufe one common Seal in 4 their Affairs, and the fame at their Pleafure to change and alter. 4 Provided neverthelefs. That no General Meeting of the faid Contributors, nor 4 any Perfons acting under them, fhall employ any Money or other Eflate, exprefly 4 given or added to the Capital Stock of the faid Hofpital, in any other Way than 4 by applying its annual Interefl or Rent towards the Entertainment and Care of the 4 fick and diflemper’d Poor, that fhall be from Time to Time brought and placed 4 therein, for the Cure of their Difeafes, from any Part of this Province, without 4 Partiality or Preference. 4 A n d for the further Encouragement of this beneficent Undertaking, Be it enact - 4 ed by the Authority aforefaid. That when the faid Contributors fhall have met and 4 chofen their Managers and Treafurer as aforefaid, and fhall have raifed by their Con- 4 tributions, a Capital Stock of Two Thoufand Pounds Value (the yearly Interefl or 4 Rent of which is to be applied to the Accommodating of the Sick Poor in the faid 4 Hofpital, free of Charge for Diet, Attendance, Advice and Medicines) and fhall 4 make the fame appear to the Satisfaction of the Speaker of the Affembly for the Time being •, that then it fhall and may be lawful for the faid Speaker of the Af- 4 fembly, and he is hereby required to fign an Order or Orders on the Provincial 14 Treafurer, or Truflees of the Loan-Office, for the Payment of Two Thoufand 4 Pounds,